How To Write When You Don’t Feel Like It: A Simple Strategy?
Hi there,
Lately, it has been a struggle to sit at my desk and get anything done.
I even launched a short-form newsletter to help keep my creative juices following, yet I struggle to keep up with that.
I am sure many of us feel the same way, especially in the early stages of our businesses. You know, you put so much time and energy in and there’s no reward in the foreseeable future.
Honestly, sometimes writing online, especially as a business, feels like I am pouring water into a basket–nothing seems to hold.
Most times, I get encouraged to keep writing when readers engage with my content.
When I see a like or comment, it shows that I am not writing into the void.
(To readers who engage with my content with your comments and likes, it means a lot to this struggling writepreneur.)
Like I said, I want to do everything but write. I’d rather watch hours of TikTok or scroll endlessly on X than write.
But I have been reading this book by Robert H. Schuller, Tough Times Never Last, Bit Tough People Do!
And this part jumped out at me from the book.
Here’s what it says:
“How do you handle your good ideas? Don’t hibernate. Don’t luxuriate. Don’t commiserate. Don’t procrastinate.
Dedicate yourself to that idea that has come from God. And then you can become the person you want to be!
How do you dedicate yourself? How do you get started? Let me give you this clue: Don’t wait for inspiration. Use your head, and your heart will follow.
Don’t wait until you feel like it to make the move. If you wait until you feel like it, emotion will run you instead of reason.
Many times, two people who rationally know they belong together marry and develop love, where love did not exist.
Frequently I tackled an idea and said, “I’m going to do something about it,” although I didn’t feel like it.
When I started writing this book, I did not feel like it! If I had waited until I got inspired, nothing would have happened. A published author will tell you how to write.
Simply set a specific time to go to the typewriter and type.
You may not feel like it when you start, but pretty soon, the inspiration comes.
You may need to go on a diet, but you don’t feel like dieting. You’re waiting until you feel like it. Don’t!”
Mr. Robert further said,
“Discipline yourself for one full day, and then for two days, and then you know what? After two days, you’ll feel like it! Use your head, and your heart will follow!”
If there’s anything that I am taking from this book, it is the above.
I have realized one reason that I have struggled to live the financially independent life I dream of is that I wait for when I feel like it.
Now that I think about it, the only time I feel like doing anything is once a week, and I don’t even know why.
So, here’s what I will live by, and I recommend the same for you.
I just pick something from my to-do list and start doing it.
Honestly, it is always a struggle, but I start anyway.
Even this article you’re reading, I won against the “voice of reason” to take a nap and do it later.
I went to my desk, sat down, and hit the keys.
I did not feel like writing, started it anyway, and my heart followed.
After this, I will write my byte-sized digest for content creators.
If you’re interested in curated content for content creators from around the internet, look at it. If you like what you see, please subscribe.
Thank you for reading.
Before you go, if you are a writer who wants to make a living with their craft, you might want to follow me on my journey. I might know a thing or two about that.